Posted on June, 12 2025

The convergence between climate and biodiversity has been getting increased recognition both from a scientific and a political perspective.

This could be achieved through the implementation of national plans required under both Conventions and synergetic enabling conditions. The workstream will also aim to connect those plans to the Action Agenda and Presidency Pledges.
 
Climate change has been recognized by the IPBES Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (2019) as the third driver of biodiversity loss; in its Sixth Assessment Report the IPCC has recently recommended that 30% to 50% of Earth’s land, freshwater, and ocean needs to be protected. Last year also saw a Global Report on Tipping Points2 that highlights that negative tipping points will have devastating impacts on people and ecosystems.
 
Despite all those advances, WWF has identified an implementation gap for nature-related climate action. We believe that synergies between climate and nature must be integrated in national mitigation and adaptation strategies, targets and objectives and those must be aligned with biodiversity national strategies and plans. We also believe synergies must be considered under a whole-of-society approach, considering human rights and in partnership with local communities and indigenous peoples.
 
WWF proposes a Belém Work Programme on Climate and Nature to be created in a Cover Decision or similar prominent text at COP30, with a year for Parties to discuss and propose a draft decision to be adopted at COP30.
 
We envisage a minimum duration of four years for the workstream, with a decision to be adopted on conclusions/recommendations and its continuation. The conclusions/
recommendations should feed into the next GST.
 
The workstream would be composed of an implementation component focused on designing solutions and assessing progress on specific themes (workshops) and a political component (Ministerials) with recommendations for Parties.